The Hard Shoulder

Every week for The Ultimate Guide on The Hard Shoulder, Fionn Davenport takes a closer look at some of the fantastic destinations to visit around the world. This week, Fionn joined Ciara and Shane to give the ultimate guide to, where else after such a great sporting story, Mayo!

Domestic abuse calls to Gardaí have soared by 45% in the past four years, with the figure on track to increase again this year. AXA Ireland has launched new financial and legal support for customers experiencing domestic abuse. The new services will provide access to initial legal guidance and an Emergency Support Payment to victims. Joining Ciara to discuss is Mick Comerford, the Direct Retail Di...

Author of ‘Buyer Beware’ Catherine Ryan Howard joins Ciara to place her favourite book on the Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

Ahead of All Together Now, which will take place this Bank Holiday weekend from this Thursday to Monday, many people across the country will be thinking about what to pack, but what really is essential when it comes to festival packing? Joining Shane to discuss Saoirse Hanley, Features Writer with The Irish Independent!

A new report from the Society of Chartered Surveyors in Ireland has found serious affordability challenges for couples looking to get on the property ladder. According to the research, a couple on a combined income of €113,000 who want to buy a new privately built 3-bedroom semi-detached home and who have the 10% deposit would be unable to afford to do so in the Dublin commuter belt counties… Join...

A wildfire on Slievenamon in Co Tipperary has "reduced significantly", according to Tipperary County Council announced yesterday, however firefighters are continuing to tackle a number of isolated hotspots. But, what needs to be done to prevent wildfires in Ireland in the first place? Joining Ciara to discuss is Ecologist and author, Pádraic Fogarty. Also joining me now to discuss the ongoing stru...

A new community safety model running across the country has replaced old policing committees, with 36 groups around the country and one in each local authority area. The groups meet around every three months and are made up of a large cast: local politicians, people working in the HSE and Tusla, drug addiction workers and local gardaí, all with the aim of crime prevention. Is this an effective mov...

Comedian Rosie O’Donnell recently appeared on the Seth Meyers show in the US, and she had plenty to say about the supposedly excessive drinking culture she’s encountered since she moved to Ireland… Is she right, or are we the butt of another stereotypical joke? Joining Ciara to discuss this is Aoife Carrigy cookbook author and food and wine writer.

The Hard Shoulder is broadcasting from MacHale Park ahead of a homecoming for Mayo’s historic All-Ireland win! It comes after the team ended a 75-year losing streak after beating Kerry by 1-20 to 1-17 at Croke Park on Sunday. Joining Shane across the show to discuss is: Former Mayo Footballer and 11 time all-star winner Cora Staunton Former Mayo player Austin O’Malley Publican in Castlebar Mick By...

For this week’s Kids Clinic, Ciara is joined by Ollwyn Moran, Founder of Cognikids and CogniClinic.ie to discuss the impact of screen use on developing brains.

Fans have been queuing for the last few hours to get into MacHale Park after Mayo’s monumental, curse-breaking All-Ireland win. Henry McKean has been meeting fans to get their feelings and hear how they are celebrating, and joins Ciara and Shane to discuss.

The Government has been accused of rowing back on plans for a radical overhaul of the household waste collection system. Consultants have been appointed by the Department of the Environment to look at the feasibility of a radical overhaul of the bin collections. The proposed system would give bin companies responsibility for an entire geographic area rather than competing for customers on the same...

A law student accused of transporting a bomb across Ireland has been remanded in custody with consent to bail. Isobella Perrie Sullivan was charged with possession of explosives at a special sitting of Trim District Court in Co Meath on Friday evening after a bomb was intercepted in a car near the Border in Co Monaghan. For more on this, Ciara is joined by Crime Correspondent with the Belfast Tele...

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

The US Embassy has released a statement in reaction to the passing of the Israeli Settlements Bill 2026. It reads: “The Israeli Settlements Bill risks real unintended consequences, particularly for nearly 1,000 U.S. companies and the hundreds of thousands of Irish jobs tied to them. If the goal is to make a meaningful difference for Palestinians, the focus should be on coordinated international ef...

Work to restore Marlay Park’s so-called ha-ha wall is set to cost Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council €660,000 plus VAT, with the project now in its final stages, is this yet another example of spending public money frivolously? Joining Shane to discuss is Emmet Malone, Work Correspondent and Assistant News Editor at The Irish Times and Oisín O'Connor, Councillor in the Glencullen - Sandyford ar...

What is the most important quality of any politician? A certain nonchalance. Well, that’s the view of Stephen Collins, former Political Editor with The Irish Times, who joins Ciara to discuss.

The MetroLink, the Galway City Ring Road and the Greater Dublin Drainage Project are among the nine projects to be designated under the Critical Infrastructure Act 2026. The new legislation, proposed by Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers means that the nine projects are deemed as being of critical national importance, giving them priority status for faster processing and decision-making...

Off The Ball’s David Wilson joined Ciara and Shane on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action…

Eimear McLysaght writing in the Journal has asked everyone to stop buying balaclava headrests for your car. Saying they carry “sinister” undertones. Henry McKean has been out and about asking: what does your car say about you? He joins Ciara and Shane to share what he’s heard.

Marie Casserly, Independent Councillor for Sligo and Chair of the local community Safety Partnership says that there is too much focus on e-scooters, and not on the deaths caused by cars… Is our focus misplaced? She joins Ciara to discuss.

Last year’s champions Kerry will face Mayo in the All-Ireland senior football final at Croke Park on Sunday, with throw-in at 3.30pm. Joining Shane to look ahead are former Mayo Footballer, Pádraig O'Hora and former Kerry Footballer, Paul O'Connor.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly has described as "extremely significant" the discovery of a car bomb intercepted as it was being driven across the border to Northern Ireland. For more on this, Ciara is joined by Security and Crime Editor with The Irish Times, Conor Lally.

A judge has told a court that those travelling to the month-long matchmaking festival in Lisdoonvarna in north Clare this coming September will “have to get their courting done early”, following a Garda objection to special licensing premises due to a lack of resources… Joining Shane to discuss this is Joe Garrihy, Fine Gael Councillor in Lisdoonvarna and Willie Daly, Matchmaker.

Sarina Bellissimo, Broadcaster and Presenter of the Bellissimo Files Podcast and Chris Wasser, Arts Journalist and Sunday Independent Film Critic joined Ciara and Shane on The Hard Shoulder to review the latest TV and movie releases…