The Hard Shoulder

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.

The Government is yet to finalise a national position on planned EU regulations to standardise the maximum dosage of vitamins and minerals in dietary supplements across 27 member states. Joining Shane to discuss this is Nutritionist and Dietician at Blackrock Clinic, Dr Mary McCreery…

“Last Saturday, two things happened at the same time. The brutally misogynist Taliban regime staged a military parade in Kabul to celebrate its five years back in power. And Ireland played Afghanistan in a cricket international in Belfast.” So wrote Irish Times Columnist, Fintan O’Toole, who joins Ciara to discuss.

The national minimum wage has been a hotly debated topic for the last number of years, with critics suggesting some young adults are experiencing an icy welcome to the world of work. All while businesses across the country argue they are being stretched beyond their means to absolve minimum wage increases… Joining Ciara to discuss this is Kelly Earley, Columnist and co-host of the ‘For Tech's Sake...

Every week for The Ultimate Guide on The Hard Shoulder, we take a closer look at some of the fantastic destinations to visit around the world. This week, Travel Journalist Eoghan Corry joined Ciara and Shane to give his ultimate guide to Gran Canaria!

Women’s health has come a long way in recent years, but there are still huge gaps in how women’s conditions are understood, diagnosed and treated with many women left waiting years for answers. There’s now growing concern around how much of women’s health is still overlooked when it is not to do with fertility. Fianna Fáil TD for Louth, Erin McGreehan, has been looking at this and joins Ciara to d...

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is defending itself in a landmark social media trial that begins today in California. This comes after a coalition of states sued Meta in 2023, and the four states now going to trial were selected to represent them.  For more on this, Shane is joined by Elaine Burke, Tech Journalist and host of the ‘For Tech's Sake’ podcast.

A Russian missile attack killed 10 people in a village in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region, Ukrainian authorities said this morning. Along with this Russia has threatened the UK with “consequences” after reports that British drones have been used to strike targets on Russia’s mainland for the first time. Joining Ciara to discuss this is Professor of Politics at DCU and author of the book ‘Unf...

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland said today that retaining staff is now “...as big a challenge as initial recruitment”. They are calling on the Government to make the teaching profession more attractive and to recognise teachers' services if they teach abroad. Joining Ciara for more on this is former secondary school teacher and CEO of Studyclix, Luke Saunders...

The number of children being baptised in Ireland has fallen by a third in ten years. That’s according to research carried out by the Iona Institute. But why are 2/3 of parents still Christening their children when only a third get married in the Church? Newstalk Sarah Madden reports on convenience Catholicism and the other options available to secular new parents.

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan has today said that the Government is unable to insulate everybody from every geopolitical shock. His comments come as Ministers are under increasing pressure to postpone the phasing out of excise cuts on September 1st. But, what does this mean for you and your energy bill? And, how much can we expect inflation to affect prices going forward? Joining Shane to discu...

There is a longstanding debate about the main overhead light in a room or as many call it the ‘big light'. Social media is flooded with people saying they hate the big light, with many saying they should be outright banned… So, is it time to put an end to the big light? Joining Ciara and Shane to discuss is Presenter and Podcaster James Kavanagh and Newstalk's own Dylan Hand...

Donald Trump has labelled the Strait of Hormuz a new US territory on his social media platform, Truth Social, as Iran threatens a new offensive, while the US rules out extending the ceasefire deal… David Smith, Washington Bureau Chief with The Guardian, joins Shane to discuss.