The Hard Shoulder

U.S. President Donald Trump has backpedalled on his threat to strike Iranian energy infrastructure. In early morning U.S. time in an all-caps post the President said the U.S. has had very good and productive conversations with Iran over resolving the conflict. He had previously set a deadline of just before midnight Irish time for the country to reopen the Strait of Hormuz before he would begin st...

How much would you be willing to pay for a 99 ice cream? With the weather improving, people have noticed one costing as much as €4.50! Josh Crosbie has been investigating the prices of these sweet treats, and joins to discuss.

A leaders meeting is taking place this evening so senior Government figures can sign off on measures to alleviate some of the rising energy and fuel costs as a result of the war in the Middle East. Measures on the table today reportedly include a tax rebate scheme for hauliers, a double fuel allowance payment and a reduction in excise duty to cut fuel prices at the pumps. Joining Shane to discuss...

Posh parents are spoiling the Hot School Meals scheme for the plain people of Ireland… So wrote Fionnán Sheahan in today’s Irish Independent, but is this the case? Shane Loftus, Principal of Our Lady Immaculate School in Darndale joins Shane to discuss…

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

Last Sunday night was a spectacular night for Ireland at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles with two wins. One was for first-time winner Jessie Buckley, of course for her role in Hamnet, and then the man who completed the hat trick, now three time Oscar winner: Richard Baneham. Initially hailing from Tallaght and via Ballyfermot College to Hollywood, his work on the three Avatar movies has left him...

What is the best way to financially help your child in today's economy? Is it making sure they stay debt free while they pay college fees, putting money aside as they start out on their career paths or is it helping them later in life with money towards a down payment? Well, joining us to discuss this is financial adviser, Padraic Kissane.

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…

Dublin City Council is considering a tourist tax of up to €5 per night for visitors - would it be a good idea? Joining Ciara to discuss this is Eoghan Corry, Editor of Travel Extra.ie and Paris-based Journalist, Elaine Cobbe.

The House of Lords has passed an amendment to the UK Crime and Policing Bill which was proposed by former DUP leader Arlene Foster that would criminalise saying “Up the Ra”. Joining Shane to discuss is of Brian Warfield, of The Wolfe Tones…

As the war in the Middle East escalates, the International Energy Agency is calling on governments to take measures to reduce oil demand by pushing remote working, reducing speed limits and encouraging a shift towards public transport. To discuss Ciara is joined by Borzou Daragahi, Middle East Journalist and Analyst.

Cork City Council are planning on putting up posters with the slogan ‘Get your shit together’, with a dog covering the letter I. A local councillor says it will encourage young people to swear and curse. Newstalk’s Henry McKean has been asking the public if it’s a bad influence, and joins Ciara and Shane to discuss.

A civil case which was taken by three victims of IRA bombings against former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has been dropped at the High Court in London. The judge had yesterday pressed the defence as to why the case should not be dropped before this morning’s developments. Mark Hennessy, Ireland and Britain Editor with The Irish Times joins Shane with the details…

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…

Tánaiste Simon Harris has confirmed the Government is looking at an "appropriate intervention" to address rising fuel costs, which will be finalised at Cabinet meeting, which is on Tuesday. Joining Ciara to discuss this is Dr Paul Deane, Senior Lecturer in Clean Energy futures at University College Cork and Michael Fitzmaurice Independent Ireland TD for Roscommon-Galway. Another fuel also being af...

Broadcaster, content creator and recent Dancing with the Stars finalist Eric Roberts joins Ciara and Shane for this week’s Thursday Interview!

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…

The war on Iran has turned the EU leaders’ Summit into an energy showdown as EU leaders met in Brussels today for the first time since the conflict in the Middle East began. At the summit, the Head of the United Nations says it’s high time for Israel and America to end the war with Iran. The impact of the war on energy prices overshadowed the gathering… Newstalk's Eamonn Torsney is in Brussels, an...

Eviction notices issued by landlords rose by 41% in the last three months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024 according to the Residential Tenancies Board. This was ahead of the State’s new rental rules coming into effect on the first of this month. Joining Shane to discuss this is Michael Byrne, Associate Professor at UCD’s School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice and Autho...

New health guidelines in Russia will see women who do not want to have children referred to psychologists. This is in an effort to address a systemic demographic crisis where Russia, like a lot of the world, is seeing the birth rate fall. Ali Hall, From Life Without Children decided from a young age that she did not want children, and joins Ciara to discuss.

The Irish Road Haulage Association has said that the threat of immediate protest action is now “off the table” following a meeting this morning with Minister Darragh O’Brien. President of the Association Ger Hyland said he was satisfied that substantial supports that are going to be announced in the next week. But, will this stem the significant rise in fuel prices we are seeing at the pumps? And...

Demolition has started on an illegally built home in Meath after the council moved in to take control of the property yesterday. Joining Ciara with the latest updates is Barry Whyte, Newstalk’s Chief Reporter.

Queen’s University Belfast students are voting on reintroducing Irish-language dual signage in the university’s students’ union following its removal almost 30 years ago. For more on this, Shane is joined by Jay Basra, Chair of the Young Unionists Society at Queen’s & Eoghan Ó Conghaile, a member of An Cumann Gaelach, the Irish language Society at Queen’s.

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 to properly fold laundry!

An unapproved 'Epstein Files' float which appeared in three St Patrick's Day parades across Mayo and Galway yesterday has sparked outrage. The float contained performers portraying Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein, Stephen Hawking, and several women, all in varying degrees of undress. On the float, what appears to be a sexual assault was acted out on a mattress. Well, joining me now to discuss this i...