The Hard Shoulder

If you want to see Oasis at Slane next summer, you are looking at spending a serious amount of money for the ticket, with prices ranging from €181.25 to €501.25 for the much-anticipated Slane gigs, which go on sale next week. Oasis are certainly not alone, concert ticket prices have been rising quite rapidly in recent times, with fans increasingly questioning why it costs so much to see the bigges...

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…

Europe is bracing itself for one of its worst ever potato harvests ever, with the price expected to rise and the size decreasing due to extreme heat experienced this summer… Joining Shane to discuss this is Mick Kelly, Founder of GIY.

Two people who handled protected disclosures made by Garda whistleblowers have themselves blown the whistle, alleging that reforms introduced to protect those who speak out have been undermined by senior management… The issue was raised again today during Leaders' Questions in the Dáil to which Labour TD Alan Kelly accused Minister Helen McEntee of either "incompetence or a mistake" in her handlin...

The number of office workers bringing their own lunch is surging. Recent research found that around three quarters of those surveyed believe that buying lunch around their office has become too costly, and that bringing their lunch from home helps them to keep a handle on their finances. So, how can we improve our packed lunches? Joining Ciara to discuss is Chef Neven Maguire...

Poland temporarily halted flights at two airports due to Russian attacks on Ukraine. It comes after NATO was warned it's "not ready" to repel air attacks. Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has praised a US bill to toughen up sanctions on Russia. For more on this, Shane is joined by Duncan Bullivant, CEO of the Henderson Risk Assessment Group…

A new study in Sweden has found that using a trial of AI-powered breast cancer screening helped increase detection without increasing false positives. The study, which was done over two years also found that it found workload by 44% by handling initial screening. To discuss this and more, Ciara is joined by Dr Brendan O’Shea, GP and Senior Clinician Lecturer at Trinity College Dublin.

The political world was shocked yesterday when details emerged of an assault on Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae. He was assaulted on Cork Street Dublin while travelling home to Kerry, and was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital for medical attention. A man has since been arrested on suspicion of carrying out the attack, which has reignited concerns around the safety of politicians and the growing issue of v...

When the temperature falls, do you notice your appetite go up? Research shows that people consume more calories in the autumn and winter seasons compared to the rest of the year. So, why is this, and what foods help with your immunity in the colder months? Joining Shane to discuss is Sarah Keogh, Dietician and Founder of Eatwell.

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 breakfast in bed!

For this week’s Tech Takeover, Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, joins Ciara to discuss the new EU proposal for an outright ban on those under 13, with additional restrictions for older teenagers.

Whether it’s opting for runners or flats over heels for a night out and jeans and a t-shirt replacing the traditional suit in the office: have we lost our way when it comes to fashion and ‘dressing up’? Joining Shane to discuss is Terry Prone, Chairman of the communications clinic and Laura Mullet, fashion expert and Journalist.

The Irish College of GP’s has said the man­dat­ory three-day wait to access abor­tion ser­vices is hav­ing a dis­pro­por­tion­ate impact on women and girls facing other obstacles to health­care such as poverty, dis­ab­il­ity and gender-based viol­ence. The College told the Oireachtas Committee on Health that it is imperative that the proposed amendment to the law supports the importance of a refle...

(Spoilers ahead for last night’s episode of The Traitors Ireland!) Joining Ciara and Shane in studio today is Janet, who was murdered in plain sight and DJ, who was banished from the round table in last night’s episode of The Traitors…

It is understood the Metrolink project could cost between €14.5 billion and €17.5 billion in total, significantly more than the initial midpoint estimate of €9.5 billion that’s according to the latest cost estimate considered by the Government today. Joining Ciara to discuss this is Lorcan O'Connor, CEO of TII.

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 the perfect city break before the end of the year!

Chupi Sweetman, Founder of the Irish heirloom jewellery company Chupi, joins Shane to place her favourite book on the Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

The majority of motorists underestimate the annual cost of running their car, typically by about €1,000, according to the ESRI. The research found that 72% of motorists underestimated their annual motoring costs. So, how are so many of us so wrong, and what costs are we missing? Shane O'Donghue, Editor of completecar.ie joins Ciara to discuss.

Jurors at the inquest of schoolboy Noah Donohoe have concluded that Stormont's Department for Infrastructure (DFI) “erred” in its maintenance of a culvert entrance close to where Noah was last seen alive in its inquest. The jury, who had been deliberating for more than 30 hours, were also critical of some elements of the police investigation that looked into Noah’s death, who was found dead in Bel...

The Irish Road Haulage Association have said that the Government are fooling themselves if they think that fuel prices will have fallen in advance of the November 1st deadline, when fuel supports are due to start unwinding… They have called on the Government to take action on fuel policy, arguing that the days of depending on imported fossil fuels from the Middle East are over. Joining Shane for m...

With cigarettes appearing in recent music videos, catwalk shows and Hollywood movies, it’s no wonder they’re creeping into the hands of young people. Some are even swapping out their vapes for a cigarette. So, is smoking cool again? Joining Ciara to discuss is Doctor and Irish Independent columnist Maire Treasa Ní Cheallaigh...

US rapper Macklemore has been dropped from the remaining dates of Ed Sheeran's US tour following controversy over comments he made in support of Palestine during a concert in New Jersey. Joining Shane to discuss this is Daniel Lambert, Chief Operating Officer of Bohemian’s Football Club and Journalist Ian O’Doherty.

(Spoilers for last night’s episode of The Traitors Ireland ahead! You have been warned!) Ciara and Shane are joined by murdered Faithful, Sean C and banished Faithful, Donal, to discuss their thoughts and experiences of the show!

Between 2024 and May 2026, there were 101 deaths in collisions involving a male driver aged between 16 and 25, according to the Road Safety Authority. At this year’s Ploughing Championships, the RSA are trying to get through to young people and change habits on our roads, after some recent horrific head on collisions driving down the wrong way on the motorway. To discuss further, Shane is joined b...

Comedian Rhys Darby joins Shane to discuss his upcoming appearance at the Galway Comedy Festival, which is running from October 20th to the 26th!