The Hard Shoulder

Enoch Burke has been jailed for a fifth time today after the High Court found him in breach of a court order not to trespass at Wilson's Hospital School in Co Westmeath. Mr Burke has only been released on Wednesday from Mountjoy Prison to prepare for a legal case, but has returned there today. Joining Ciara with the latest updates is Frank Greaney, Newstalk's Court Correspondent.

This week, Ciara Doherty was 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…

A top Loch Ness Monster hunter has given his final verdict after 5 decades that the mythical creature is simply folklore, but from Fionn mac Cumhaill to the Loch Ness Monster, where does this folklore come from? For more on this, Ciara is joined by Folklorist, Micheal Fortune.

What impact do you think it would have on your mental health if your loved one died and you weren’t able to bury them? For the loved ones of victims of the Troubles, this is their reality. Newstalk’s James Wilson has this report on the legacy the disappearance of the dead continues to have on the mental health of families in Northern Ireland… If you have any information about the Disappeared, you...

Off The Ball's Mick McCarthy joined Ciara Doherty on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action…

Lawyers for the Dublin Airport Authority have been due to submit an affidavit to the High Court today in response to allegations made by CEO Kenny Jacobs. It could heighten tensions between the DAA and Jacobs. For more on this, Ciara is joined by Daniel McConnell, Editor of the Business Post.

A judge has ordered the immediate arrest of Enoch Burke for again breaching an injunction restraining him from going to a school in Co Westmeath for the second day in a row, having been released from prison earlier this week. Shane Phelan is Legal Affairs Editor for the Irish Independent, and joins Ciara to discuss.

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan has been urged to temporarily extend pub licensing hours for the World Cup if the Republic of Ireland qualifies, but would publicans also be in favour? Joining Ciara to discuss is Michael Farrell, of Farrells Bar in Youghal.

Tory politician Robert Jenrick, who at one stage was being talked about as becoming a one-day leader of the Conservative Party, has defected to Reform UK after being sacked from Kemi Badenoch’s front bench. Will this make it more or less likely that we will see Nigel Farage become UK Prime Minister in the near future? LBC Presenter James O’Brien joins Ciara to discuss.

Teachers in Monksland National School in Co Louth are eating their lunch in their cars due to the lack of space in the school and enrollment numbers doubling over the past decade… For more on this, Ciara is joined by Darragh Smith, acting Principal of Monksland NS in Louth and Ruairí Ó Murchú, Sinn Féin TD for Co Louth.

John Fardy, Presenter of Screentime on Newstalk and Sarina Bellissimo, Broadcaster and Presenter of the Bellissimo Files Podcast joined Ciara Doherty on The Hard Shoulder to review the latest TV and movie releases…

Last week, Airlines for America filed a complaint to the US Department of Transport over Dublin Airport’s passenger cap. To explain this decision, I’m now joined by Senior Vice President of International Affairs at Airlines for America, which represents the US airline industry, Keith Glatz. Also joining to discuss is Travel Journalist Eoghan Corry, and later Michael O’Leary, Group CEO of Ryanair.

A new strategy has this week been approved by the Cabinet aimed at enabling the further development of energy intensive facilities, including data centres. It’s an issue that has divided our listeners this week, and so we thought it would be great to get the answer from the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke. He joins Ciara to discuss.

The European Union Copernicus Climate Change Service has confirmed that 2025 was the third warmest year on record. Global temperatures from the past three years averaged more than 1.5°C above the pre-industrial levels. The world is getting warmer, but it seems like action isn’t as urgent as it needs to be. So, does the climate emergency have a messaging problem? Barry McLoughlin of the Communicati...

Robert F Kennedy Jr has announced a new food pyramid with quite a few changes, to ‘Make America Healthy Again’. But, how effective is it? To discuss this, Ciara is joined by Sandra Wilkinson from the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute.

Nuisance noise, bad parking and strange smells... According to a recent chill insurance survey - these are some of the most common gripes we have with our neighbours.  And with people living in closer proximities and working from more than before, neighbourly disputes are increasingly getting out of hand and into the courts.   Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports.

Everyone loves getting a deal in all walks of life, but does this apply to the purchasing of workout equipment, or should you show caution? To discuss this, Ciara is joined by Personal and Wellness Trainer, John Belton.

The United States is withdrawing some personnel from bases in the Middle East, according to a US official, after a senior Iranian official said Tehran had warned neighbours it would hit American bases if Washington strikes. Tehran is seeking to deter US President Donald Trump's repeated threats to intervene on behalf of anti-government protesters. The UN Security Council has been due to meet in Ir...

Now, let’s talk Traitors - don't worry, no spoilers here this evening! If you’ve been watching these series so far, you will have heard the players talk about their past experience as detectives, barristers or those who have had FBI training… so they have really upped their game this year to try and be the best player. But, can you be taught these things so quickly? And does it really help with ga...

Are children starting school lacking basic skills? There are concerns that kids' exposure to phones and the internet from an early age is having a negative impact in ways that were once taken for granted. To discuss this,Ciara is joined by Principal of St Patrick’s National School in Greystones, Co Wicklow, Rachel Harper, and Principal of Bunscoil na Cathrach in Co Tipperary, and Vice President of...

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 to discuss how you can improve your signature!

Enoch Burke has been released from Mountjoy Prison following an order from a High Court judge earlier. Burke had been in jail since late November for breaches of a court order directing him not to trespass at Wilson's Hospital School in Co Westmeath, where he worked as a teacher. For more on this, Newstalk’s Courts Correspondent Frank Greaney joins Ciara.

Yesterday yet another increase of alcohol prices was announced with the price of Guinness increasing. As these hikes continue, many people may opt to have a drink at home rather than in the pub, but is this negatively impacting children that are also in the house? Joining Ciara to discuss is Siobhain O’Neill White from Mams.ie . and Brendan Kelly, Psychiatry Professor at Trinity College Dublin.

For this week’s Tech Takeover, Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent joins Ciara Doherty to discuss how you can deactivate or delete your X account if you are so inclined.

US President Donald Trump has said that anything less than Greenland "in the hands" of the United States is "unacceptable", reiterating his demand for control of the Danish territory. His comments come as Greenlandic and Danish Foreign Ministers are to meet US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington today. Joining Ciara to discuss the latest updates and give their...