The Hard Shoulder

This week, Ciara and Shane were joined by Off the Ball's Cameron Hill and Freelance Journalist, Niamh O'Reilly, to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists...

Following yesterday's landmark conviction of comedian Russell Brand of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, Ciara is joined to discuss by Femi Otioju, former Chair of Women's Aid and Suzanne Moore, Columnist with the Telegraph.

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 weekend’s action…

New legislation is to be enacted next year, which will force employers to tell job applicants the salary range for a role when they advertise it. The new rules will also ban employers from asking job applicants what they are currently paid. Joining Shane to discuss this change is Louisa Meehan, of Woodview HRM, HR and Dispute Resolution Expert.

More bomb threats have been reported on flights across Europe, following a series of hoaxes earlier this week. Media offices here in Ireland, including Newstalk’s, were also briefly evacuated this morning. Joining Ciara to discuss is Fianna Fáil MEP, Barry Andrews…

An Italian chef in Brisbane, Australia, denied a request to add pineapple to pizza, calling it an “insult to his culture,” and was subsequently fired. But what are the worst mistakes we are guilty of when making Italian food? Well, joining me now is Giuseppe Crupi, Editor of Pinocchio Magazine and Director of Pinocchio cookery school-Dublin.

Yesterday, Donald Trump predicted a “very big” deal between Russia and Ukraine but it might also involve “all of Europe”. Ukrainian officials met with Melania Trump in the White House this week. Joining Ciara to discuss how likely a deal is and what Europe’s broader involvement might be is Politics Professor at DCU, Donnacha Ó Beacháin.

For generations of Irish families, Christmas did not really begin until December 8th. Schools closed, the trains filled up, and Dublin’s City Centre became the busiest stretch of pavement in the country. But when did this change? And is Christmas actually coming to the shops earlier and earlier each year? Joining Shane to discuss Damian O'Reilly, Senior Lecturer in Retail Management at Technologic...

More bomb threats have been reported on flights across Europe, following a series of hoaxes earlier this week. Media offices here in Ireland, including Newstalk’s, were also briefly evacuated this morning following threats… Joining Ciara for more on this is Declan Power, Security and Defence Analyst & Sean Bell, former Fighter Pilot, Military Analyst and Co-Host of the ‘Red Matrix’ podcast.

Sarina Bellissimo, Broadcaster and Presenter of the Bellissimo Files Podcast and Andy McCarroll, host of the ‘Xtravision’ podcast joined Shane to review the latest TV and movie releases…

The Defence Forces have warned that a lack of a national security strategy is putting the country at high risk of security threats. Their warning comes ahead of next week's EU presidency meetings. For more on this, Shane is joined by Security Analyst Declan Power…

The Public Accounts Committee has heard that the Natural History Museum will not reopen until the 2030s, with €3.6 million spent on its refurbishment to date and no final budget in place. Joining Shane to discuss this is Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee, John Brady…

If money or a degree weren't obstacles, what would you do for a living? Why do we not chase that dream job in our head? Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin Brendan Kelly joins Shane to discuss!

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

New figures from the ESRI suggest antisocial behaviour among young people is shaped not just by individual circumstances, but by the environments they grow up in. Researchers point to neighbourhoods experiencing high levels of disorder and a lack of effective intervention as contributing factors to the problem. So, what role do communities and local authorities have in tackling that behaviour befo...

An Aer Lingus plane flying from Dublin to Rome was among a number of flights across Europe affected by bomb threats.  Cork Airport also received an anonymous phone threat, leading to a 90-minute delay to a flight. At least eight flights across the continent were confirmed to have been targeted, including services from Copenhagen, Helsinki, Madrid, Milan and Warsaw. Joining Shane to discuss th...

You might be noticing more moustaches around the place this month, that's because every November, the Movember charities call on men to grow a moustache and open a conversation about mental health. Now Movember is teaming up with the GAA to help encourage young people across the country to talk about mental health. To tell more about it, Shane is joined by former Roscommon football player Ciaran M...

Joining Shane is Minister Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Fine Gael TD for Longford-Westmeath and acting Communications Minister to discuss a proposal for a UK-style cap on minor injury awards that he is looking to bring in.

Country music superstar Garth Brooks has announced 10 concerts across five Irish cities for 2027. The singer will perform two shows each in Belfast, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick and Cork next May and June. Joining Shane to discuss is Jackie Conboy, Co-Founder of the Music & Entertainment Association of Ireland.

Russell Brand has been found guilty of rape and sexual assault after a weeks-long trial. Brand was accused of three charges of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault against six women from 1999 to 2009. Joining Shane to give us the latest on this verdict is Caroline Frost, Entertainment Journalist, and a warning to listeners that some of the details of thi...

Unions have announced details of next week's planned public sector strike on Thursday November 12th. Joining Shane with the details is Louise Burne, Political Correspondent with The Irish Examiner.

Ciara is joined by Dr Rangan Chatterjee, GP, podcaster and author to discuss his upcoming show at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre: The Thrive Tour!

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 get winter ready!

Following the Democratic victories in the US Midterm Elections, Newstalk Reporter Baibre Holmes joins Shane to discuss what she’s been seeing on the ground in Philadelphia from voters and in general.

"Ireland’s child protection system is a high-stakes game of Jenga", those were the words of Sinéad O'Sullivan in today's Irish Times. But, what are we seeing at a ground level in our courts as a direct result of our systems failings in child protection? Joining Ciara to discuss this is Kitty Holland, Social Affairs Correspondent of The Irish Times.