The Hard Shoulder

The Irish flotilla members detained by Israel have landed in Turkey after being deported from Israel and are en route home to Ireland. Speaking to Journalists as they descended their plane in Turkey, they denounced the use of violence and humiliation tactics by Israeli authorities… Joining Ciara to discuss is Imelda Graham, mother of Cat Graham, one of the Irish activists who was aboard the flotil...

One of Ireland’s most popular tourist areas, Temple Bar, has turned 35! What kind of impact has it had on Dublin, and what do people think of it today? Newstalk’s Josh Crosbie has been down in the area to speak with business owners, locals and tourists to get their thoughts, and joins Ciara and Shane to discuss.

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…

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end tonight, after it was cancelled by CBS last July three days after Colbert slammed the network for settling a lawsuit with Trump. Colbert has hosted the talk show since 2015. To find out more about the behind the scenes of the show and to gauge public sentiment about the show’s ending, Ciara is joined by David Smith, Washington Bureau Chief of The Guardia...

A study (Children’s Palliative Care in Ireland Study) was launched today during Children’s Hospice Week, revealing that up to 1 in 168 children in Ireland are living with life-limiting conditions, nearly double previous estimates. This will have significant implications for hospital capacity and national health policy… Joining Shane to discuss this is CEO of LauraLynn, Ireland's Children's Hospice...

We’ve all been there, stuck at the office coffee machine with a coworker, desperately trying to think of something to say that doesn’t involve the weather. But understanding the value of this small talk and how it can benefit you in the workplace is a must. So how can you master the art of small talk and how can it benefit you in the workplace? Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry, Trinity Colle...

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 rest of the week’s action…

Irish Rail has concluded that a new IT system to control the movement of trains across the country is unlikely to be used and has written down the €50 million value of the project in its accounts. Joining Ciara to discuss this is Chair of the Public Accounts Committee & Sinn Fein TD John Brady…

Gaza flotilla activists who were detained by Israel and later pinned to the ground to the taunts of Israel’s far-right National Security Minister ‌have been released from prison and deported to Turkey, officials said. Fourteen Irish citizens, including Dr Margaret Connolly, sister of President Catherine Connolly, are among the more than 400 people being deported. The Israeli Foreign Ministry confi...

For years, as a dinner party guest you ate what you were served. Now, diets, intolerances, cultures and overall preferences are haunting party hosts. Hosts are now spending more time and money having dinner parties because of these food preferences. So, it begs the question: are dietary requirements killing dinner parties? Joining Ciara and Shane to discuss is Michelle Harding, Etiquette Expert.

Tomorrow will see the Galway West and Dublin Central constituencies take to the ballot box for the by-elections. Who are the front runners in each constituency, and will there be any surprises? Louise Burne is Political Correspondent with the Irish Examiner, and joins Shane to discuss.

Protests were held today for Yves Sakila, the Congolese man who tragically died after being tackled by security personnel on Henry Street last Friday. Joining Ciara to discuss is Barry Whyte, Newstalk’s Chief Reporter, who was at the protests…

“I quit Pilates because Ireland has priced ordinary people like me out of exercise. Tax breaks for gym memberships are a no-brainer – it has become too expensive to work out”, so says Lorraine Courtney in the Irish Independent today… Joining Ciara to discuss this Spin News Anchor, Katie Gallagher.

Should supermarkets face fines for unsold edible food? A new proposal to tackle food waste would see supermarkets prevented from throwing away unsold food and instead ensure they are donated… Naoise Ó’Cearúil, Fianna Fail TD for Kildare North has proposed we adopt the French model, where supermarkets are not permitted to destroy unsold food and instead they must arrange to give it to charities, or...

An Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that passing the Occupied Territories Bill “will not change” Israel's behaviour. This comes as the Sanctions Against the State of Israel Bill will be voted on in the Dáil this evening… Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss this is Richard Boyd Barrett, People Before Profit TD.

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 Doherty to discuss all things karaoke!

Cork Senator Laura Harmon has called for tighter regulations surrounding the use of AI glasses, which can be used to secretly film people without their consent. The use of these glasses has sparked debate in recent weeks, following a number of incidents, showing members of the public and workers unknowingly filmed, with edited clips later being posted on social media… Labour Party Senator and memb...

Evanne Ní Chuilinn, Fine Gael Senator and former RTÉ Sports Presenter, has said that she was not paid as a Presenter, despite doing the job of one at the national broadcaster for a decade… She addressed RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst at the Oireachtas Media Committee hearing amid fresh controversy over payments, transparency and governance within the organization. She joins Ciara Doherty to d...

Social media giant Meta is to cut up to 350 jobs from its Irish workforce as part of the company’s latest round of global job losses that will see it shed thousands of roles worldwide. Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, began notifying workers around the world about the lay-offs earlier today, beginning with staff in its Asian hub in Singapore… Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss this...

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

A disturbing video has been posted by Israeli Minister Ben Gvir showing the treatment of detainees who were forcibly removed from Gaza Flotillas. The video shows people with their arms tied with cable ties behind their backs being forced to kneel on the ground in the sun, with their heads touching the ground. It also shows an Irish woman being forced to the ground by her head… Minister for Foreign...

A new report from Daft.ie shows rents had their sharpest quarterly increase at the start of this year. On average, renters can expect to pay over €2,000 a month for a two-bed apartment, while in Dublin it will be over €2,600… Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss this is Helen Moynihan, Dublin Regional Organiser in Community Action Tenants Union (CATU) and Marian Finnegan, CEO of Sherry Fitzgerald.

Love them or loathe them, we are all in WhatsApp groups. Whether it's for family, school, sports, work or parties, there seems to be a text group for everything… It begs the question: have we had enough of the WhatsApp groups? Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss is presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Today FM, Alison Curtis.

RTÉ management faced the Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport earlier today to answer questions on pay of presenters and staff, and also examine pensions and funding… Newstalk Reporter Emily Keegan was following the media committee meeting and joins Ciara Doherty to discuss. Also joining Ciara is Sinéad Gibney, Social Democrats TD for Dublin Rathdown and member of the...

Treatment for crack cocaine is up by 30% as addiction to powdered cocaine among women surges. That's according to the latest data from The Health Research Board… Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss is Professor in Addiction at the School of Medicine at Trinity College Dublin, Jo-hanna Ivers.