The Hard Shoulder

Driverless taxis could be operating in London from next year, making it the first European city to have driverless taxis. They have been operational in cities such as San Francisco and LA, but what are the pros and cons of them? Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss is Irish Examiner Columnist Jane Cowan and Ciara O’Brien, Technology Correspondent with The Irish Times.

This Bank Holiday Monday, Henry McKean returns with 'The Rewind'! This time, he's taking a trip back to 1997. From Princess Diana to Michael Flatley, he joins Ciara to discuss what you can expect when you listen in.

Westlife have extended their residency at the 3arena from 5 nights to 13(!), due to demand. So, this poses the question, do Westlife belong in the Irish Music Hall of Fame? And if so, where on that list do they rank? To discuss this, Ciara is joined by Arts Journalist, Pat Carty.

A certain advert in Ontario has caused US President Donald Trump to end trade talks with Canada. Mark Carney, the Prime Minister, is trying to strike a deal to ease US tariffs, but Ontario premier Doug Ford has been behind this new advert, which uses excerpts of a national radio address from former US President Ronald Reagan in 1987. Was Trump justified? Or might he be thin-skinned?  What do...

The last 12 months saw the highest number of first-time buyer mortgages since 2007. What does this say about the current housing market? Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss this is Dr Rory Hearne, Social Democrats TD for Dublin North-West and author 'Gaffs: Why no one can get a house’ and Karl Deeter, Financial Analyst.

The Dublin Marathon is taking place this Sunday, in what is sure to be a busy weekend in the capital following the Presidential election! Will you be running? One person who is taking part is Newstalk’s own John Fardy, the Presenter of Screentime! He joins Ciara to discuss why he loves running marathons.

Bon Jovi are set to play in Croke Park next summer! Henry McKean, as well as Newstalk Reporter Emily Keegan, were at the press conference for this big announcement, and even met with Jon Bon Jovi himself! Henry joins Ciara to discuss.

Sarina Bellissimo, Broadcaster and Presenter of the Bellissimo Files Podcast and David O’Callaghan from the Here and Back Again podcast joined Ciara Doherty on The Hard Shoulder to review the latest TV and movie releases…

Novelist Cauvery Madhavan joins Ciara Doherty for this week’s Thursday Interview!

Today is the last day for our Presidential hopefuls to make their case to the public as to why they should be in the Áras, but what do kids think? Newstalk’s Henry McKenry paid a visit to South City Community National School in Dublin for another edition of Kidstalk!

Kayla is 16 years old, and has autism and an intellectual disability. She has previously struggled in school due to suspensions and changing teachers, having had 3 different ones so far this school year. Ciara Doherty is joined by Kayla’s mum, Aisling, to talk about the challenges facing her daughter, and what can be done to help her.

A number of Gardaí have sustained injuries over the past two nights, as violent scenes have continued at Citywest. How Gardaí are being treated and targeted has been called into question. Ciara Doherty is joined by Assistant General Secretary of the Garda Representative Association, Tara McManus, to discuss this further.

A verdict returned today has found Soldier F not guilty of the charges against him from Bloody Sunday. The Paratrooper, whose identity has remained anonymous, was charged with committing two murders and five attempted murders in Derry on the 30th of January 1972… Freelance Journalist Amanda Ferguson joins Ciara Doherty to discuss.

Do you know how to read a payslip? As tax season is now upon us, many people struggle with understanding and managing their own finances. To talk about why this is the case, Ciara Doherty is joined by Emer Kirwan, of Jigsaw Business Solutions.

A ‘super casino’ has been granted planning permission in Cork, despite strong push back from members of the local community. To discuss this issue in a bit more detail, Ciara Doherty is joined by Cllr Joe Lynch, a Sinn Féin Cllr from the local area, and Patrick Hughes, who ran hotels in Las Vegas for over 20 years.

Should the harp and uilleann pipes be performed for foreign heads of state at the Áras? Well, uilleann piper Eamonn Walsh thinks so. He joins Ciara Doherty to discuss.

Five men have been charged with public order offences following violent clashes outside a Dublin hotel housing asylum seekers. The men, two of whom are aged in their 50s and three in their 40s, appeared before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Wednesday morning. It comes after disturbances at Citywest overnight. Plenty of families, and particularly children, will be more than aware of what happene...

For this week’s Tech Takeover, Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent joins Ciara Doherty to discuss the Department of Education and Youth’s published guidance for AI in schools.

Ahead of the Presidential election on Friday, Ciara Doherty is joined by Presidential candidate, and former Minister and TD for Cavan-Monaghan and North Meath, Heather Humphreys.

Family members of Jozef Puska have been given jail terms for offences connected to the murder of Ashling Murphy in 2022. Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss is Newstalk’s Court Correspondent, Frank Greaney.

It's now the final countdown until the Presidential election, but how will rural Ireland and the farmers vote? Henry McKean met farmers at the Kilcullen Mart in County Kildare, and sent in this report.

The prospect of a United Ireland is becoming an increasingly regular point of discussion, with the concessions that must be made for a new Ireland being central to this. One such concession being dual citizenship on the island, as protected under the Good Friday Agreement for those of Northern Irish birth. If this right is afforded to those born in the six counties, should it also be granted to th...

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 Doherty to give his tips on getting the cheapest flights possible!

Former Prime Minister Borris Johnson told a Covid inquiry this morning that the Covid rules “probably did go too far" particularly when it came to the impact on children and young adults.  Ciara Doherty was joined by TNT Presenter, Enda Brady to discuss.

Singer Flo McSweeney, joined Ciara Doherty to discuss some of her favourite books....