The Hard Shoulder

Off the Ball’s John Duggan joins Ciara and Shane from Cheltenham to discuss the races, and the buzz around the festival on day one.

Political Correspondent with Virgin Media and author Gavan Reilly joins Ciara and Shane to place his favourite book on The Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

While we hear about the many Irish citizens endeavouring to leave the United Arab Emirates, one family that appears to be in no rush to leave are the Kinahans. Marooned there following sanctions imposed by the United States, the family appear to be living their lives in the open, including a sighting at an MMA event last summer. Joining Shane to discuss this is Conor Lally, Crime and Security Edit...

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says today will be the "most intense" of the US strikes on Iran… For more on this, Shane is joined by Tara Kangarlou, Global Affairs Journalist and author of ‘The Heartbeat of Iran’. Image: Reuters

Groups set up on social media to swap supermarket’s money-off vouchers, such as Dunnes 10 off 50 are gaining popularity, but what is it about a good discount voucher that makes us love them so much? Joining Ciara to discuss the reason why is Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin.

A protest is being held on Wednesday March 18th outside the Dáil to protest the approval of plans for 140 apartments on the site of the former Bessborough Mother and Baby Home in Cork. This comes after a vigil was held last Sunday at the gates of the former Mother and Baby Home in Cork. In 2021, the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes found that 923 babies associated with Bessbo...

On the station today, we’ve been hearing that drivers have left behind more than €300,000 at toll booths last year by driving away without their change when passing through a motorway plaza. With record numbers passing through our tolls, and with frustrations building at the levels of congestion, is the solution to build more roads? Joining Ciara to discuss is Brian Caufield, Professor in Transpor...

Ireland is nowhere near meeting its retrofit targets, that's according to a new ESRI report out today. So why are people not retrofitting? For more on this, Shane is joined by Claire McManus, Director of JFOC Architects and Housing Spokesperson for the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland.

There are at least 30 people diagnosed with dementia every day in Ireland, with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland saying that there are 64,000 people living with dementia… Today at Croke Park, a new service was launched that focuses on reminiscence therapy. The Replay is a collection of commentator Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh’s iconic broadcasts. Josh Crosbie went along to the launch, and he sent in t...

Iran's Foreign Ministry has said at a news conference that there's currently no room for ceasefire talks; stating that as long as attacks continue, there is "no point to talk about anything but defence and retaliation against enemies". Tara Kangarlou, Global Affairs Journalist and author of ‘The Heartbeat of Iran’ joins Shane to discuss…

On Friday we heard from Helen Joyce, Author of Trans; gender identity & the new battle for women’s rights & Director of Advocacy at Sex Matters to discuss the Gender Recognition Act, among other issues. Joining Ciara to return to the discussion is Karen Sugrue, Sociology Lecturer, Psychotherapist and member of Mammies for Trans Rights.

For this week’s Kids Clinic, Ciara and Shane are joined by TJ Hegarty, Founder of Breakthrough Maths and TikTok star to discuss the importance of times tables and spelling are for when your kids are young, and how they are vital for later in life.

Gerry Adams was “directly responsible for and complicit” in the decisions made by the IRA to detonate bombs in England, the High Court in London has heard. Adams denies that he had any role in the Provisional IRA, and is opposing the claim. Joining Shane with the latest updates on the civil trial is Enda Brady, London-based Journalist.

You will have heard throughout the day and over the weekend about fuel prices continuing to rise at forecourts across the country. Oil surged to prices not seen since 2022 this morning, hitting just under $120 a barrel. The Irish Road Hauliers Association has said that these rising prices could force them to take protest action,  which would result in supply chain disruption and rising prices...

At our beaches and along our waterways you may be well familiar with the yellow boxes holding lifebuoys. What you may not be familiar with is the people across the country who ensure that each and every lifebuoy remains up to standard, and is replaced after any vandalism, which can unfortunately be a regular occurrence… Fergal Wyckham is a ring buoy inspector with Water Safety Ireland, and joins S...

President Catherine Connolly has said recent attacks in the Middle East are “deliberate assaults on international law”. President Connolly made these remarks in a statement which marked International Women’s Day. Her comments have concerned some in Government that it might affect the Taoiseach visit to the White House for St Patrick's Day… Joining Ciara for more on this is John Lee, Group Politica...

Housing Minister James Browne has confirmed that the Government will soon relax planning regulations to allow more people to build one-off homes in rural areas. For more on this, Shane is joined by Carol Tallon of the Property District…

“There seem to be potholes on every road and ones that were there before have grown – it’s a bit of a disaster.” Those are the words of Daniel Pender, Fianna Fáíl County Councillor & Cathaoirleach of Muinebheag, Carlow on the state of the roads following Storm Chandra. He joins Ciara to discuss, as well as Conor Faughnan, Independent Motoring Expert for Carzone.

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…

“This International Women’s Day, I want to propose that we stop telling women they don’t look their age. We hand out this observation like it’s a medal, when it’s actually toxic.” So says Irish Independent Columnist, Mary McCarthy, who joins Ciara and Shane to discuss.

Minister Peter Burke today issued a statement regarding the increased abuse retail workers have been experiencing in recent days following the increase in fuel prices. In his statement he said, “I want to make it clear that this behaviour is unacceptable, and no one should take their frustration out on any retail worker.” Have you noticed an increase in abuse? Joining Ciara to discuss this is Jim...

How can you tell if you have gum disease? And if you do, how can it be treated? Dentist Dr Bronagh Keane joins Shane to discuss.

Off The Ball Senior Producer Mick McCarthy joined Ciara and Shane on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action…

Last night was reported to be the heaviest night of bombardments in the capital Tehran, with the Israeli Defence Forces also carrying out a wave of strikes on the Lebanese capital Beirut. Joining Shane with the latest updates is William Christou, Journalist in Beirut writing for The Guardian.

Rúaidhrí O’Connor is an Irish rugby fan who struck up a conversation with Welsh fans 50 years ago, which led to 50 years of friendship… They’re celebrating it tomorrow, and Rúaidhrí joins Shane to share his story.