The Hard Shoulder

As US and Iranian forces clashed in the Gulf and the United Arab Emirates came under renewed attack, President Donald Trump said a ceasefire was still holding. Joining Ciara with the latest updates is Dominic Waghorn, Sky News International Affairs Editor, and also joining to discuss the fuels impact is Lisa Ryan, Professor in Energy Economics at the UCD School of Economics and the UCD Energy Inst...

“Selfie mirrors, goodie bags, chocolate fountains – Communion costs are out of control and so is the one-upmanship between parents” - so says Tanya Sweeney in her Irish Independent article this week. Joining Ciara and Shane to discuss this is Events Planner, Tara O’Connor.

As results pour in from the UK local elections, it appears that Reform is being embraced while Labour is left out in the cold. With the loss of its stronghold in Wales, and a performance worse than initially expected, Britain is set to be transformed by the time the sun sets tonight. Joining Ciara to discuss this is Lucy Fisher, Whitehall Editor of the Financial Times and host of the ‘Political Fi...

On Tuesday, the ‘Change of Mind’ period of the CAO opened for Leaving Cert Students. This year marks the 50 year anniversary since the creation of the Central Applications Office, the system in which applications are processed for undergraduate college courses in Ireland. But, what have we actually learned in 5 decades of the CAO? Joining Shane to discuss is Paul Crone, the Director of the Nationa...

“A recent incident on O’Connell Street, where a carriage horse broke free and collided with a bus, is a stark reminder that Dublin’s streets are no place for horse-drawn carriages in 2026”. These are the words of Claire Owens, Political Affairs Officer with the NSPCA. She joins Ciara to discuss.

Sarina Bellissimo, Broadcaster and Presenter of the Bellissimo Files Podcast and Dee Reddy, Podcaster and Cultural Commentator joined Ciara and Shane to review the latest TV and movie releases…

The HSE is urging people to protect themselves against tick bites ahead of the summer season, as they warn of several hundred Lyme disease cases a year in Ireland. Professor Jack Lambert, Consultant in Infectious Diseases at the Mater Hospital and UCD School of Medicine joins Shane to discuss.

As the UK heads to the polls today, negative results have been predicted for the Labour Party, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s political future hanging in the balance. From winds of independence to the crumbling of Labour strongholds – uncertainty seems to be the word of election day. Joining Ciara to discuss what Britain could look like in the next few days is James Lyons former Direct...

This week a record 1.3 million people applied for the 2027 London Marathon, and last weekend over 13,000 people took part in the Dublin City Half Marathon. With this gaining popularity, it makes you wonder: why do we run marathons? Joining Ciara and Shane to discuss is Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College, Brendan Kelly.

Free sunscreen will be made available to the public across seven Dublin parks this summer. Recent studies have shown that nine in ten cases of skin cancer are caused by UV rays from the sun or sunbeds. The initiative hopes to help promote sun safety and reduce the risk of skin cancer. Joining Shane to discuss this is Jennifer Rock, Founder of the Skin Nerd.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Pope Leo the 14th today, with hopes to ease tensions between the US and the Vatican. Mr Rubio is visiting Rome just weeks after President Trump's extraordinary criticism of Leo, the first US pope, over his anti-war stance. Joining Ciara to discuss this is the Washington Bureau Chief of The Guardian, David Smith. Image: Reuters

A number of social media companies that appeared before the Oireachtas committee on Children and Equality have denied that their platforms are addictive… Joining Shane to discuss this is Ruairí Ó’Murchú, Sinn Féin TD For Louth and Member of the Committee and Regina Doherty, Fine Gael MEP for Dublin.

“Jaded Dubliners have had enough of bland, soulless buildings” - so says Andrea Horan, Founder of Dublin nail bar Tropical Popical. This follows a recent announcement that the owners of Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre had received permission from Dublin City Council to go ahead with their plans to redevelop the centre. Andrea joins Ciara to discuss…

HSE Chief Anne O’Connor had told senior management the organisation is “significantly over budget” and the situation is “serious” while a Dáil spending watchdog was announced in response to the €127,000 bike shed in Kerry hospital. The HSE will be pausing recruitment in some non-frontline roles due to a €250 million overspend… Joining Shane to discuss this is Pádraig Rice, Social Democrat TD for C...

We are plugging back in! Gone are the days of Bluetooth headphones, because furiously untangling wires in an attempt to look more stylish while walking down the street or on the treadmill is back. But why have wired headphones become popular again? Joining Ciara to discuss is Dave Hanratty, host of the ‘No Encore’ podcast, Audio Producer with The Irish Independent.

GAA fans are upset at the confirmation that the All-Ireland football Championship opening round fixture between the sides will be streamed live on GAA+. With a significant amount of games being shown on GAA+ again this summer, what will it mean for fans who don’t have a subscription and rely on RTE tv to view the games? Joining Shane to discuss is Daniel Hussey, Sports Presenter and Jamesie O’Conn...

This month, the Irish Guide Dog Association will celebrate its 50th birthday, marking half a century of helping blind and visually impaired people to fulfil their full potential. Demand for guide dogs is high, and the charity has issued an urgent appeal for more people to volunteer as puppy raisers, which will allow them to train more guide dogs in the future. Newstalk’s James Wilson sent in this...

The Irish Independent’s Fab 50 is a list of the best places to stay in Ireland this year. So, who made the cut, and what are the new short break trends it points to? Joining Shane to discuss the list is Pól Ó Conghaile, Travel Editor with the Irish Independent. Image: Dromgariff Rainforest

A Funeral Director in Kerry has come up with a very unique way of spreading ashes in hard to reach places or over vast swathes of land. Aerial Farewell provides families with a bespoke aerial ashes releasing service for loved ones who have passed on… Sean Lynch is a Funeral Director and owner of Aerial Farewell, and joins Ciara to discuss.

Joe Lynam, who you’ll know of course as Newstalk’s Business Editor and presenter of Breakfast Business from 6.30am every morning, joins Ciara and Shane in the studio. Joe is not here to talk business for a change, but in fact about heart health, following his own experience of a heart attack, as well as the Move Every Day in May initiative from the Irish Heart Foundation.

Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Andrews has urged the EU to “recognise the apartheid underway in the West Bank”. Andrews was on a visit to the occupied West Bank, and joins Shane to discuss what the next steps need to be in the region.

Author Liz Nugent joins Ciara and Shane to place her favourite book on The Hard Shoulder’s bookshelf!

Ireland's security watchdog has warned that Ireland’s security legislation is outdated in a number of ways, and it should be amended to ensure the safety of the State and combat threats like 'lone wolf' attackers. Mr Justice George Birmingham, the Independent Examiner of Security Legislation, warned that the shifting nature of security threats facing Ireland and developments in modern communicatio...

Actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have settled their lawsuit after over a year of messy legal battles. The former co-stars' settlement comes just two weeks ahead of a scheduled trial, where they were set to testify. Joining Shane to discuss this is Harriet Alexander, Senior Features Writer with the US Daily Mail.

Fine Gael is tabling a Bill that would remove some barriers to installing more CCTV cameras around Dublin. Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast this morning, James Geoghegan, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Bay South would be helpful in areas that have “a high prevalence of crime” along with aiding Garda Investigations. Dublin has one of the lowest levels of CCTV cameras in Europe with just over 200 cameras ope...