The Hard Shoulder

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

Just 6% of children say they spend enough meaningful time with people closest to them – that's according to new research from Heinz Beanz & Barnardos. Joining Shane to discuss the findings is Vogue Williams, TV personality, podcaster and mum-of-three & Dr Malie Coyne, Galway-based Chartered Clinical Psychologist. For more information, or if you wish to donate, you can do so at barnardos.ie...

The Government has confirmed that the planned reversal of excise duty fuel cuts in September and October will not go ahead. Joining Ciara to discuss this is Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon. Later, Shane is joined by Pat Leahy, Political Editor of The Irish Times and John Fitzgerald, Adjunct Professor of Economics at Trinity College Dublin.

The continental scrabble Championship took place in Dublin last week, with 65 players from across the world battling it out for the €500 top prize. It got us thinking: what is the best boredom buster, and why are they beneficial? Joining Shane and Ciara to discuss is Dave O’Keefe, owner of ‘Board & Brewed’ and Claire Moriarty, Post-Doctoral Researcher at Trinity College Dublin.

Students across the country received the results of the 2026 Leaving Certificate when they logged on to their Candidate Self Service Portal on the State Examinations Commission portal this morning. Joining Ciara to discuss this is Gemma Lawlor, Guidance Counsellor in Tyndall College Carlow.

Sarina Bellissimo, Broadcaster and Presenter of the Bellissimo Files Podcast and John Fardy, Presenter of Screentime on Newstalk joined Ciara and Shane to review the latest TV and movie releases…

A recent study from Atlantic Technological University has found that Fungi the dolphin was a mix of two different species of dolphin. The find, making Fungi a rarity in the dolphin world, was found after a DNA sample from the dolphin was taken from a diver’s wetsuit. Joining Ciara to tell more is Simon Berrow, CEO of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, and a Lecturer in ATU.

A heavy Russian missile and drone bombardment has killed at least 15 people in and around Kyiv in one of the most intense aerial attacks on Ukraine’s capital since the start of the war. Joining Shane to discuss is Emmanuelle Chaze, Ukraine-based Journalist with France24.

Social media platform TikTok has declined an invitation from the Oireachtas Media Committee to appear before them, following a crash on the M9 over the weekend and concerns surrounding the content of videos on the app. Alan Kelly, Chair of the Oireachtas Media Committee & Labour TD for Tipperary North joins Ciara to give his reaction…

Ahead of his performance with Bon Jovi in Croke Park next weekend, the frontman of The Boomtown Rats, Bob Geldof, joins Shane for a chat!

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 week’s action…

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, are set to return to Britain after six years of living in the United States. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their two children, seven-year-old prince Archie, and five-year-old princess Lilibet, are expected to relocate to the UK this month. The family will reportedly live at a private, non-royal residence outside London, but they plan to maintain their...

In the wake of the tragic crash on the M9 over the weekend, where a car driving the wrong way smashed into another, killing 5 and seriously injuring 4 others, many different approaches have been discussed with how to solve the issue. One such proposed solution was from Fianna Fáil MEP for Ireland South Billy Kelleher who called for people driving the wrong way down a motorway to be charged with at...

Ireland has always had a reputation for being a nation that loves a laugh. From Father Ted and Derry Girls to the stand-up comedians filling venues across the country, but when it comes to Irish comedy, are we actually doing enough to support and promote the talent we have? Joining Ciara to discuss is Peter Flanagan, Irish Comedian and Writer.

Stats out today published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) revealed that the number of people working from home fell by 2.2% in the second quarter of the year, compared to the same period last year. However, the number of people that never worked from home rose by 43,800. Joining Shane to discuss this is Peter Cosgrove, Managing Director of Careers Portal.

The prices of green fees for Ireland’s top golf courses have soared in the past four years, with some courses doubling their prices since 2022. With another rise expected post Ryder Cup next year, a question remains… Is the perception of golf being an elitist sport accurate? Joining Ciara to discuss is Chief Operating Officer of Golf Ireland, Tracy Bunyan and Law Lecturer in the University of Galw...

A recent online consultation from South Dublin County Council for a plan to set up a number of large digital advertisements along roadsides has received more than 100 objections, from councillors, residents, and interest groups. But why are people unhappy with the proposal? Joining Shane to discuss is Sarah Barnes, a Fine Gael councillor and Deputy Mayor of South Dublin County Council and Conor Fa...

Life can be full of confusing things, but no need to worry! Every Wednesday, Simon Tierney will be showing you ‘How to do Stuff’ - bringing his best tips for those things you might not think about. This week, Simon joins Ciara and Shane to discuss how to join the Mile High Club!

"Dublin Bus has been forced to look as far afield as South Africa in its endless search for bus drivers... Welcome and needed as these drivers undoubtedly are, their arrival raises several interesting questions. The first one being why are Irish people not interested in the job?" So, writes John McManus, in The Irish Times today. Joining Ciara to discuss this is Dermot O’Leary, General Secretary o...

House price inflation slowed to its lowest level in two-and-a-half years in June as a combination of increased supply, higher borrowing costs and uncertainty caused by the Iran war cooled the market. Joining Shane to discuss this is Marian Finnegan, CEO of Sherry Fitzgerald.

For this week’s Tech Takeover, Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, joins Ciara to discuss why OpenAI will be introducing a version of ChatGPT for those between the ages of 13 to 17…

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

The ex-Ukrainian Defence Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, has called for wartime elections, arguing the nation has faced a crisis of governance since the war. His address, which was posted on YouTube, is the first such demand by a major Ukrainian political figure since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. Joining Shane to discuss this is Ukrainian MP, Inna Sovsun…

Social media giant TikTok has been invited to appear before an Oireachtas media committee meeting as soon as possible to address growing concerns over videos which "glorify illegal activity" on the platform. Committee Chair and Labour TD Alan Kelly joins Ciara to discuss…

While purchasing your first car is an exciting endeavour, there are many practical questions and considerations you should have at the top of your mind before signing for the keys... Joining Shane to discuss this is Paddy Comyn, Head of Automotive Content and Communications with DoneDeal Cars and Comedian Steve Cummins.