The Hard Shoulder

Book lovers flocked to Chapters Bookstore in Dublin last night for a sold-out midnight release party for the latest edition of the global phenomenon 'romantasy' series, ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’. Newstalk's Ciara Treacy joined in on the festivities to find out why this beloved series was worthy of a late-night launch party...

The richest 0.1% of the world’s population produces more greenhouse gas emissions than the poorest 44% combined, according to a new report from Oxfam. Joining Shane to discuss this is Sadhbh O’Neill, Climate and Environmental Researcher.

Kelly Earley, columnist at The Journal and co-host of podcast ‘For Tech's Sake’, like many of us thought she had a fair understanding of what epilepsy was; that is until she was recently diagnosed with it. Since then, Kelly has discovered the hidden symptoms and daily challenges that come with the condition. She joins Shane to discuss…

Lindsey Fitzharris, American author and Medical Historian joins Shane to place her favourite book on the Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

There are 777 admitted patients without a bed in hospitals around the country, according to figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. Today's figure marks the second highest number of patients waiting for a hospital bed on a given day this year. Joining Shane to discuss this is Tony Fitzpatrick, Director of Professional Services and Industrial Relations with the INMO.

Retailers across Ireland have been reminded by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to clearly display prices for paper bags. The CCPC has written to retailers around the country to remind them they must display prices for paper bags and similar products in line with consumer law. For more on this, Shane is joined by Conor Pope, Irish Times Consumer Affairs Correspondent.

Millions of Israelis are heading to the polls today to vote in a pivotal election. For the first time since the October 7th attacks, voters are choosing a government in the shadow of the Gaza war, a conflict that has reshaped the country's politics, security priorities and international standing. For more on all of this, Shane is joined by Bel Trew, Chief International Correspondent with The Indep...

There was an interesting piece by Justine McCarthy in The Irish Times last week in which she argues the more we tolerate ‘Mé Féinism’ the less likely we are to treat each other as human beings... Be it cyclists on footpaths or shouty phone calls on buses and trains that shred your nerves: is Mé Féinism getting worse? Joining Shane to discuss this is Joe O'Shea, Editor of CorkBeo.ie and Newstalk’s...

Drivers are being warned about the dangers of increasingly bright vehicle headlights. Separately, 3,500 speeding fines, 146 drink or drug driving arrests, 300 caught driving with mobile phones all occurred over the bank holiday weekend… What is wrong with driver attitudes? Joining Shane to discuss this is Ger Herbert, Motoring Editor with the Sunday Independent.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) published a paper today on how it estimates the inflation rate affects different types of households in Ireland depending on age, household composition, income, and other characteristics. Joining Shane to discuss the findings and what they mean is Emma Howard, Economist at TU Dublin.

A forthcoming study by the National Economic and Social Council is expected to conclude there's no clear-cut evidence about the impact of remote and hybrid employment arrangements on productivity in the workplace… But is this really the case? Joining Shane to discuss this is Emmet Malone, Work Correspondent with the Irish Times and Maeve Mc Elwee, Executive Director of Employer Relations with IBEC...

Israelis go to the polls tomorrow for the first time in 4 years in what is anticipated to be one of their most consequential elections ever. Polls suggest that Gadi Eisenkot, the former head of the IDF, is currently ahead of current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by riding a wave of anger after the October 7th attacks, but it looks unlikely that either will be able to form a clear majority.&nbs...

Every year around 3,600 women in Ireland, and around 30 men, are told they have breast cancer.  But when the treatment ends and hospital appointments stop, the questions don’t, and neither does the impact on the people around them, partners, parents and children.  ARC Cancer Support Centre CEO Amy Nolan, and Hazel Chu, the deputy leader of the Green Party, and Breast Cancer Ireland...

If you were one of the thousands who crossed the finish line in the Dublin Marathon yesterday, you may be sitting there this morning with legs that don’t want to work, and wondering what comes next.   The months of training are done, the big day has been and gone, and now there’s the small matter of recovery.  And it’s not just about the legs.   Well to walk Ciara through...

Election season is in full swing at the moment, having just had elections in Brazil and Serbia, and with an election due in Israel tomorrow. But one of the most important elections this year will happen next week in the US as voters head to the polls for their midterm elections. Joining Ciara to tell us what to expect is Scott Lucas, professor of US and International Politics at the Clinton Instit...

This week, Ciara and Shane were joined by Off the Ball’s Cameron Hill and presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Today FM, Alison Curtis, to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists...

Rex Ryan, Founder of Glass Mask Theatre joins Ciara to discuss his new show ‘The Witness’!

John Simpson, BBC World Affairs Editor, joins Shane to reflect on his career after recently celebrating 60 years with the BBC!

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…

A Government-ordered report has approved the introduction of plug-in solar panel technology. But what are plug-in solar panels, and what makes them unique? Lisa Ryan, Professor of Energy Economics at UCD, joins Ciara to discuss.

DUP MP Carla Lockhart has resigned as a party officer amid a deepening row with the leadership over the future of Stormont. Lockhart’s move comes amid a difference of opinion between her and DUP leader Gavin Robinson on whether the party should withdraw Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly from the power-sharing executive. For more on this, Shane is joined by Tom Kelly, Columnist at Irish Ne...

Halloween is a week away, but today was the last day before the kids break up for midterm. Henry McKean sent this special Halloween Kidstalk from Balbriggan in North County Dublin.

A shooting has taken place, and a terror probe is underway after one person was killed and four others injured in a drive-by shooting in a Paris suburb. For more on this, Shane is joined by Henry Samuel, Paris Correspondent with The Telegraph… Meanwhile the country is preparing for another wave of demonstrations this weekend. It follows protests over the cost of living, public services and educati...

As one storm passes, another is set to arrive! Met Éireann has issued Status Orange weather warnings, which are due to come into effect tomorrow, as Storm Boelo arrives. Joining Ciara to explain what this means for you this Bank Holiday weekend is Mark Bowe, Met Éireann Forecaster and Keith Leonard, Head of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management.

Dónal Lunny, the pioneering Irish traditional musician, has died at the age of 79. A central figure in folk and traditional music since the 1960s, he was a founding member of a number of bands, including Planxty, Moving Hearts, LAPD and Usher’s Island. Throughout his career, he also worked with artists such as U2, Kate Bush, Sinéad O’Connor, Elvis Costello and Van Morrison. Joining Shane to rememb...