The Hard Shoulder

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.

New body armour is being rolled out to members of the Defence Forces for the first time in two decades. Newstalk Reporter Jessica Woodlock got a first look at this special equipment, and joins Ciara to discuss.

Children under 10 should not be given obesity drugs or GLP-1 weight-loss injections such as Mounjaro and Wegovy, new global guidelines from the World Health Organization say. For more on this, Shane is joined by Dónal O’Shea, Specialist in Obesity.

Every week for The Ultimate Guide on The Hard Shoulder, Fionn Davenport takes a closer look at some of the fantastic destinations to visit around the world. This week, Fionn joined Ciara and Shane to give his ultimate guide to Nashville in Tennessee!

Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald criticised the budget on X earlier today, saying it hasn't “shown you the respect you deserve”. Joining Ciara to discuss this and the party's reaction to the announcements from Budget 2027 is Galway West TD and Sinn Féin Spokesperson for Public Expenditure, Mairéad Farrell...

It is time to discuss what many will consider to be the most important details of Budget 2027... What does it mean for your pocket? Joining Ciara to discuss this is Nick Charalambous, Managing Director of Alpha Wealth.

With so much to dig into from Budget 2027, what do climate and transport experts think about the announcements made? Joining Ciara to discuss is Oisín Coghlan, Policy Advisor to The Irish Environmental Network and Brian Caulfield, Professor in Transportation at the School of Engineering at Trinity College Dublin.

Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers joins Ciara to discuss Budget 2027 following the announcements made today.

Joining Ciara for Budget 2027 on Newstalk with PwC, to speak to us about the impact today's announcements will have on businesses and workers, is PwC Head of Tax, Paraic Burke. Also joining to give more of an overall look at Budget 2027 is Newstalk’s Political Correspondent, Seán Defoe.