The Hard Shoulder

Katie Taylor will bring a fairytale ending to her stellar career; Ireland’s greatest ever athlete will fight at Croke Park on Saturday, September the 5th. Fighting for the vacant WBC Super Lightweight Championship in a historic undisputed clash against France’s undefeated Flora Pili. Henry McKean was at the launch at Croke Park this afternoon, and sent in this interview with Katie Taylor.

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 action…

Ireland has banned two Israeli Ministers from entering the country. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has confirmed the Israeli Ministers, Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have been banned from travelling into Ireland. Former Prime Minister of Israel, Ehud Olmert, joins Ciara to discuss. Image: Reuters

An opinion piece in The Journal today by Emer McLysaght challenges the idea that wedding guests should be expected to give cash as a present. She says that "getting married is a decision, not an achievement... we should stop giving newlyweds money”. As the cost-of-living continues to rise, and as weddings are now often a multiple day event, should we re-evaluate the wedding guest gift expectations...

The Minister for Health has suggested there could be an issue with the Rotunda Hospital continuing to be covered by State-funded clinical indemnity insurance if it continues to allow public-only consultants to offer private care. Labour Party Health Spokesperson, Marie Sherlock, joins Ciara to discuss.

An Post Chief Executive David McRedmond has joined 19 other postal groups in Europe in calling for a six-month delay to the introduction of a €3 charge on small parcels from online purchases originating from outside the European Union. He joins Shane to discuss why…

The Chair of the European Parliament’s Housing Committee recently called the Irish housing crisis the “most severe” in Europe. But, how are we to solve it? Well, Aontú TD for Mayo Paul Lawless has called on the Government to temporarily eliminate VAT on house construction to stimulate growth… Paul joins Ciara to discuss.

Sarina Bellissimo, Broadcaster and Presenter of the Bellissimo Files Podcast and David O’Callaghan from the Here and Back Again podcast joined Ciara and Shane on The Hard Shoulder to review the latest TV and movie releases…

“I shudder to think I sat in Tina Satchwell’s home while her body lay buried there. For 30 years I’ve been reporting on missing people, but the Tina Satchwell murder case has taught me that in this job, you are always learning”, so says journalist, Barry Cummins author of the new book, ‘Buried Secrets’, which tells the story of the murder of Tina Satchwell’s and the long investigation that eventua...

A United Nations peacekeeper in Lebanon died from wounds sustained when mortar shells hit his ⁠position near Marjayoun in southeastern Lebanon late last night. Iranian Journalist & Founder of the Badlands Newsletter, Borzou Daragahi, joins Ciara with the latest updates. Image: Reuters

There are two types of people out there, ones who open their emails, and ones with their inbox in the thousands. But, why is it that so many people struggle to open their emails? Joining Ciara and Shane to discuss is Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College, Brendan Kelly.

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…

On Tuesday, the actor Tom Holland said on Amy Poheler’s podcast ‘Good Hang with Amy Poehler’ how he felt he had to turn down work with Saturday Night Live because of his dyslexia, as he felt he wouldn’t be able to read the cue cards fast enough for the show… So, is dyslexia a common obstacle for people in their professional life? Joining Shane to share his story is Rory O’Connor, better known as ‘...

It was announced today that the European Commission has decided to bring Ireland to the European Court of Justice over alleged peat cutting infringements. They claim that the Government has spent EU money on illegally extracting peat… Joining Shane to discuss further is Green Party Spokesperson for Climate and former Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Climate, and Communications O...

As parents, we want nothing more than our kids away from the screen, but maybe we are all becoming a bit too attached to the phone. So, should we limit our own screen time as an example to our kids? Joining Ciara to discuss is Esther Mc Carthy, Columnist with The Irish Examiner.

An Garda Síochána is preparing to spend €150 million on a national rollout of body-worn cameras and an advanced digital evidence management network following a successful trial of the technology. A total of 600 cameras were used at five Garda stations during the proof-of-concept phase in 2024 – three in Dublin and the others in Limerick and Waterford. Joining Shane to discuss this further is Forme...

A petition calling on the Government and the OPW to prohibit large festivals and commercial events in parks such as Dublin's Phoenix Park to protect the native wildlife has been circulating online. This is following a number of recent incidences of animals, such as deer ending up in residential areas due to noise disturbances. Joining Ciara to discuss is Wayanay Carballo, Creative Director and Fou...

The ESRI has just released research showing that non-farmers believe that farmers care less about climate change than in reality. But, do farmers really care about the climate? And how is it affecting their work? Joining Shane to discuss is Pat Aherne, a Homeopathic Dairy Farmer from Cork.

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 you can properly behave when you go to the theatre!

Following Saturday night’s Champions League Final between Paris Saint Germain and Arsenal, French police detained 780 people involved in violent clashes in Paris and other French cities that erupted following the PSG win… Hooliganism has always existed in sport, but are we at a stage now where it is actually getting worse? Joining Shane to discuss is Martin Lipton, Chief Sportswriter with The Sun...

Two people have been arrested after protesters clashed with police near the site of 18-year-old Henry Nowak's fatal stabbing. 11 officers and one police dog were injured at the scene. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has joined Southampton MPs in condemning the violence, calling the scenes "disgraceful and completely unacceptable". 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa was jailed for life with a minimum 21-yea...

In many towns and cities across Ireland, you can get a supermarket meal deal, which includes a sandwich, a packet of crisps and a drink for as little as €3.99, but is it killing the traditional packed lunch or lunch break? Do you find it soulless and lacking in flavour and nutrition? Newstalk Reporter Henry McKean has been out asking the public, and joins Ciara and 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 week’s action...

For this week’s Tech Takeover, Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent joins Shane to discuss the new EU-wide initiative for an emergency text alert system that can reach all phones.

Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality Norma Foley has announced a new maximum fee cap for early learning and childcare services today. This comes as the Programme for Government, announced in January 2025, promised childcare costs would be reduced to €200 per month over the lifetime of the Government. The Minister joins Ciara to discuss.