The Hard Shoulder

Comedian Jack Dee, who is celebrating 40 years in stand-up! This month he returns to Ireland to take us on a memoir of his favourite old jokes and funny anecdotes that have intrigued him for as long as he can remember… He joins Shane to discuss!

Sports Journalist Daniel Hussey joined Ciara and Shane on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend’s action…

Over in the UK, the family of a 12-year-old girl who died after drinking a milkshake made in an unwashed blender at a cafe have called for a dedicated rating that scores food businesses on their allergy management. But, in terms of allergy recognition in Ireland, what is being done behind the scenes? Joining Ciara to discuss this is Catherine Dolan, Spokesperson for Allergy Action Ireland.

The public will be able to watch the execution of a former US Army major by firing squad, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has said. Nidal Hasan, who shot dead 13 unarmed US soldiers at Fort Hood in 2009, will be livestreamed, in what is believed to be the first public execution in the US in almost a century. Joining Shane to discuss this is Jennifer Ewing from Republicans Abroad and Leslie Shoem...

We are typically told to make the best of our weekends: dinner parties, going out, spending time with friends or family - but that isn’t always the case with how we choose to spend our time. What does a good weekend look like, and should we feel guilty about having a quiet or lazy weekend? Joining Ciara to discuss is Esther McCarthy, Columnist with the Irish Examiner and Steve Cummins, Comedian.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is back in the news today having been granted £302,000 in compensation after his lease on his former Windsor home was officially surrendered, and Green Party leader Zach Polanski has just failed to become an MP in the London by-elections. Joining Shane to discuss this is Political Editor at Financial Times, George Parker.

Winning the lottery might end your marriage, according to a new study women are more likely to leave their partners after a big jackpot. But what does this tell us about our relationships? Joining Ciara to discuss this is Brenda Power, Columnist with The Sunday Indo and The Irish Daily Mail.

Some food delivery companies are planning to track riders’ speeds to halt illegal e-bikes. Conversion kits can turn ordinary bikes into high-powered machines, prompting concerns over dangerous riding, going as fast as €50 km an hour. And a small number of riders are selling drugs on the side. Henry McKean has been investigating, and joins Shane to discuss.

Sarina Bellissimo, Broadcaster and Presenter of the Bellissimo Files Podcast and Entertainment Journalist Dee Reddy joined Ciara and Shane to review the latest TV and movie releases…

Yesterday, the Garda Podcast released an episode discussing the rise in human trafficking and labour exploitation found in nail salons across Ireland. They are encouraging customers to be mindful of human trafficking and labor exploitation signs. For more on this, Ciara is joined by CEO of the Immigrant Council of Ireland, Teresa Buczkowska…

The public sector workers' strike continues with nurses picketing today. It comes ahead of planned strikes by public sector workers on October 14th and October 21st. For the latest, Shane is joined by Health Correspondent with The Irish Examiner, Niamh Griffin...

Why do we love reading people's confessions online? Our resident psychologist Brendan Kelly is here to explain... Joining Ciara and Shane to discuss is Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin.

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…

IFAC has strongly criticised the Budget, warning it puts the public finances on “a worse trajectory”. Taoiseach Micheál Martin defended the budget, saying: “We’re trying to protect people as best we can in the midst of an international crisis”. Joining Ciara to discuss is Chair of the IFAC, Seamus Coffey.

With daylight saving time approaching, you may be drawn to different music. That's according to a study led by psychologist Terry Pettijohn at The University of Georgia. But if you’re listening to a podcast named ‘autumn girl listening’ once the leaves start to fall, what does this say about your music taste? Joining Shane to discuss this is Dave Hanratty, host of the ‘No Encore’ podcast and Audio...

Analysis from the Central Statistics Office found that fuel and home heating prices continued to rise in September. Diesel went up by 5.4%, petrol rose by 4.8% and home heating oil rose by a significant 7.2% in just one month… Joining Shane to discuss the findings and whether this week's Budget may alleviate some of the stress is Head of Communications at Bonkers.ie , Daragh Cassidy.

Minister for Higher Education, James Lawless joins Ciara in the studio to discuss everything relevant announced in the Budget when it comes to the education sector, including the reduction in student fees.

RTÉ and the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport are set to be summoned before the Public Accounts Committee over the coming weeks after it emerged that the broadcaster is set to be given €20 million less funding than they had expected. This reduction to what was promised in the Government’s bail out deal for RTÉ has caused a row between the department and the broadcaster. Joining Ciara...

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 properly tie a tie!

Writing in the Irish Independent, Kirsty Blake Knox says there are too many relationship gaps, from wellness gaps, to bedtime gaps and age gaps, but is difference in a relationship a good thing? Kirsty Blake Knox, Features Journalist with The Irish Independent, joins Shane to discuss.

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…

Today marks the third anniversary of the October 7th Hamas-led attack, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage. This attack sparked a devastating war in Gaza which has left much of the territory in ruins and its 2 million people living in dire conditions… For more on this, Ciara is joined by Sky News’ Adam Parsons.

Speaking before the Oireachtas Sports Committee today, the GAA has said that integration remains “on course” but the process could take “a number of years”. Alan Kelly, Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport and Labour TD joins Shane to discuss.

What chores could you not do when you left home? 20% of young people avoid laundry because they can't work a washing machine. A fruited barmbrack cake now gives instructions on its label explaining how to use a knife to cut it into slices! Have young people completely lost their way, and are we to blame? Joining Ciara to make sense of it all is Ann Russell, author, online creator and cleaning expe...

US President Donald Trump said he would speak very soon with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the reported plague death of a laboratory technician. Russian authorities denied that they were imposing anti-plague measures and played down the reports of an incident at an anti-plague institute in Siberia last week… Joining Shane to discuss this is Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America Correspondent.