The Hard Shoulder

Israelis go to the polls tomorrow for the first time in 4 years in what is anticipated to be one of their most consequential elections ever. Polls suggest that Gadi Eisenkot, the former head of the IDF, is currently ahead of current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by riding a wave of anger after the October 7th attacks, but it looks unlikely that either will be able to form a clear majority.&nbs...

Every year around 3,600 women in Ireland, and around 30 men, are told they have breast cancer.  But when the treatment ends and hospital appointments stop, the questions don’t, and neither does the impact on the people around them, partners, parents and children.  ARC Cancer Support Centre CEO Amy Nolan, and Hazel Chu, the deputy leader of the Green Party, and Breast Cancer Ireland...

If you were one of the thousands who crossed the finish line in the Dublin Marathon yesterday, you may be sitting there this morning with legs that don’t want to work, and wondering what comes next.   The months of training are done, the big day has been and gone, and now there’s the small matter of recovery.  And it’s not just about the legs.   Well to walk Ciara through...

Election season is in full swing at the moment, having just had elections in Brazil and Serbia, and with an election due in Israel tomorrow. But one of the most important elections this year will happen next week in the US as voters head to the polls for their midterm elections. Joining Ciara to tell us what to expect is Scott Lucas, professor of US and International Politics at the Clinton Instit...

This week, Ciara and Shane were joined by Off the Ball’s Cameron Hill and presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Today FM, Alison Curtis, to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists...

Rex Ryan, Founder of Glass Mask Theatre joins Ciara to discuss his new show ‘The Witness’!

John Simpson, BBC World Affairs Editor, joins Shane to reflect on his career after recently celebrating 60 years with the BBC!

Off The Ball’s John Duggan joined Ciara and Shane on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend’s action…

A Government-ordered report has approved the introduction of plug-in solar panel technology. But what are plug-in solar panels, and what makes them unique? Lisa Ryan, Professor of Energy Economics at UCD, joins Ciara to discuss.

DUP MP Carla Lockhart has resigned as a party officer amid a deepening row with the leadership over the future of Stormont. Lockhart’s move comes amid a difference of opinion between her and DUP leader Gavin Robinson on whether the party should withdraw Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly from the power-sharing executive. For more on this, Shane is joined by Tom Kelly, Columnist at Irish Ne...

Halloween is a week away, but today was the last day before the kids break up for midterm. Henry McKean sent this special Halloween Kidstalk from Balbriggan in North County Dublin.

A shooting has taken place, and a terror probe is underway after one person was killed and four others injured in a drive-by shooting in a Paris suburb. For more on this, Shane is joined by Henry Samuel, Paris Correspondent with The Telegraph… Meanwhile the country is preparing for another wave of demonstrations this weekend. It follows protests over the cost of living, public services and educati...

As one storm passes, another is set to arrive! Met Éireann has issued Status Orange weather warnings, which are due to come into effect tomorrow, as Storm Boelo arrives. Joining Ciara to explain what this means for you this Bank Holiday weekend is Mark Bowe, Met Éireann Forecaster and Keith Leonard, Head of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management.

Dónal Lunny, the pioneering Irish traditional musician, has died at the age of 79. A central figure in folk and traditional music since the 1960s, he was a founding member of a number of bands, including Planxty, Moving Hearts, LAPD and Usher’s Island. Throughout his career, he also worked with artists such as U2, Kate Bush, Sinéad O’Connor, Elvis Costello and Van Morrison. Joining Shane to rememb...

Sarina Bellissimo, Broadcaster and Presenter of the Bellissimo Files Podcast and Film Reviewer Ken Doran joined Ciara and Seán to review the latest TV and movie releases…

Websites across the globe have gone offline over the last day following the exposure of critical vulnerabilities in PHP, a programming language that underpins much of the internet. The exposed flaw would have allowed hackers to carry out cyberattacks. OpenAI, whose AI models helped discover the vulnerabilities, has called the issue "one of the most impactful security issues in recent memory". For...

Why do we put celebrities on a pedestal? We trust their judgement from political opinions to healthcare tips minus the medical degree. We are inclined to take their word as gospel… Joining Ciara and Seán to discuss is Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin.

Off The Ball’s John Duggan joined Ciara and Seán on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the week’s action…

Conor Lally, Crime and Security Correspondent with The Irish Times joins Seán Defoe with the latest on a charity at the centre of an investigation amid money-laundering allegations, following the seizure of BMWs, Louis Vuitton bags, Rolex watches…

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has taken down three online video ads related to its 'We Consent' campaign, following criticism of one ad in particular. The ad shows grandparents going to give their teenage granddaughter a hug, but before they do, the ad stops to say "Not everyone wants a hug". It has received significant backlash, with many saying it is offensive to our older population. Joining Se...

Airbnb has introduced new rules limiting what hosts can ask guests to do before checking out. From washing the dishes to stripping the beds, guests have often been left with a list of chores to complete before they can leave their rental. It raises the question: should guests be expected to clean up after themselves while also paying a cleaning fee? Joining Ciara to discuss is columnist Brenda Pow...

In some of the loneliest moments of our lives, we trust in the wisdom of a priest, born of years spent attending scenes of human devastation. So writes Kathy Sheridan in The Irish Times. But, Ireland has changed dramatically in terms of religion in the past few decades, so what is the role of a parish priest in modern Ireland? And just how important is it? Joining Ciara to discuss this is Father W...

New figures from the HSE show that more than 70,000 people did not wait, or left before completing their treatment, in emergency departments during the first seven months of this year. Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice obtained the figures, and joins Seán Defoe to discuss.

Met Éireann has issued a number of status-orange weather warnings for intense rain and wind from around 7pm Thursday evening, continuing into Friday morning. Local authorities are preparing for flooding as heavy rainfall is anticipated with Storm Austen this evening. Joining Seán Defoe to discuss this is Keith Leonard, Head of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management and Carlow W...

The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival is now in its 48th year with Boney M headlining. It's 5 days of music, 500 musicians and 100,000 revellers. Henry McKean went backstage to soak up the atmosphere and sent in this report.